The prophets and apostles have given us a sure foundation—the inerrant and infallible Scriptures. We do not expect God to give us new revelation today but only to lead the church into a deeper understanding of the truth He ...Read More

It may be important to know the historical succession of church leaders, but
it is more important to preach the gospel faithfully. A church can be built on
the Apostles only if it loves what the Apostles loved and affirms ...Read More

Because God Himself is truth (John 15:26), He prizes the truth of the gospel. The primary defining mark of a true church is that it is faithful to Apostolic doctrine. If we do not prize the Apostolic and prophetic ...Read More

Standing for the truth of God’s Word is often costly, as we have seen in the cases of Justin Martyr and Athanasius. However, if we have counted the cost, we will be prepared to pay the price when and if ...Read More

Today’s passage is a proof text for question and answer 85 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which deals with how church discipline opens and shuts the door to the kingdom of heaven. Excommunication shuts the door by declaring that the excommunicated ...Read More

We are to take the words and example of our elders seriously because they prepare us for the judgment seat of Christ. They preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, and discipline us so that we might be converted, brought back ...Read More

In summarizing today’s passage and the communion of saints, answer 55 of
the Heidelberg Catechism says that “each member should consider it a duty
to use these [spiritual] gifts … for the service and enrichment of the other
members ...Read More

Jesus certainly loves us individually and justifies us via our personal
faith in Him. However, the relationship between Christ and His bride is a
relationship between the sovereign Lord and a corporate body. Jesus loves
a people as His bride ...Read More

John Calvin comments that Paul recommends for eldership a man “who has learned to govern a family by wholesome discipline.” If you are a parent, are you consciously trying to lead your child in the faith in a way that ...Read More

Just as God gave apostles to the early church, He has given elders and deacons to lead His church today. They are not perfect (neither were the apostles), but they fill a divinely appointed office and deserve all honor, obedience ...Read More

Today the invisible church, consisting of all those who have true faith in Christ
Jesus, is united in the Savior. In time, the visible church may be united once
again as well, but true visible unity will occur only as ...Read More

John Calvin comments that Christ “does not convey to [the Apostles and their
successors] what is peculiar to himself. It belongs to him to forgive sins… .
[Instead, He] enjoins them, in his name, to proclaim the forgiveness of sins,
that ...Read More